Ships hit by U-boats


Michael J. Stone

American Steam merchant



NameMichael J. Stone
Type:Steam merchant (Liberty)
Tonnage7,176 tons
Completed1942 - Todd-Houston Shipbuilding Corp, Houston TX 
OwnerLykes Bros SS Co Inc, New Orleans LA 
HomeportHouston 
Date of attack17 Feb 1945Nationality:      American
 
FateDamaged by U-300 (Fritz Hein)
Position35° 56'N, 5° 45'W - Grid CG 95
Complement73 (0 dead and 73 survivors).
ConvoyUGS-72
RouteNorfolk (2 Feb) - Calcutta, India 
Cargo7705 tons of landing mats, oil, jeeps and asphalt 
History Completed June 1942

Post-war:
Broken up at Baltimore in March 1960. 
Notes on event

At 11.00 hours on 17 Feb 1945, U-300 fired two spreads of two torpedoes at convoy UGS-72 27 miles from Gibraltar and hit the Michael J. Stone in station #43 and the Regent Lion.

The Michael J. Stone (Master Guy Earnest Parker) was struck by one torpedo on the starboard side at the bulkhead between the #4 and #5 holds. The explosion damaged 650 square feet of the hull. The ship began to slowly settle by the stern as both holds and the steering room were flooded. The crew managed to bring the vessel under own power to Gibraltar until 18.00 hours by steering manually, drawing 40 feet aft. The tug HMS Behest (W 174) towed her into the port, where the ship was drydocked and repaired. All eight officers, 34 crewmen, 27 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns) and four passengers survived.

 
On boardWe have details of 3 people who were on board


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